Chicago Bears: 3 Prospects to avoid in 2023 NFL Draft

3. Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

The Chicago Bears have a problem in the trenches on both sides of the ball. On the offensive line, they need help on the outside. On the defensive line, though, they need help on the inside as well as the outside.

Poles added some defensive linemen via free agency. However, they do not seem like primary starting material.

In a perfect world, Georgia’s Jalen Carter falls onto the Bears’ laps. He would be a perfect fit with the Bears. The likely scenario, however, is that he is gone before nine.

That leaves the need to fill an important spot intact. The Bears need a full-fledged starter there who could help stop the run. In addition, he has to take up space and double teams to free up the pass rushers. This is something the Bears were unable to do at all in 2022, ranking last in quarterback pressures and sacks.

Calijah Kancey will probably have a good career. However, he will do it as a rotational player. He likely does not have the body or ability to start full-time. At 6-foot-1 and 281 pounds, he is undersized. As a starter, his body will take a beating. There is no telling how long of a career he’d have. He could break down sooner rather than later.